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UNIVERSITY OF KATHMANDU INTERNATIONAL
RELEVANCE OF CHILD-EVANGELISM IN THE CONTEXT OF NEPAL
A PAPER SUBMITTED
TO PROFESSOR TIMOTHY TEIGLANDIN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE COURSE
BACHELOR OF THEOLOGY
BY JAMES BEN HOKMA
KATHMANDU, NEPALMAY 15, 2004
OUTLINE
TABLE OF CONTENTS
I. Introduction
A. Definition of the term children
B. Definition of Child-evangelism
II. Demography of Nepali Children
A. Classification of Nepali children
B. Problems faced by Nepali Children
C. Child is the Father of the Nation
III. Effective Evangelism: Child –Evangelism
A. What the Bible says about it.
B. What scholars say about it.
IV. Child –Evangelism: Process and procedures
A. Infrastructures in developing spirituality in the Children
B. Transformation process of the children.
C. The gateway to reach the unreached peoples’ groups.
D. Roles of Children’s literature.
V. Relevance and the need of child-evangelism in Nepali soil.
A. Banking future believers
B. Protecting the lost souls
VI. Conclusion: Child-evangelism the best way to transform the nation.
A. Action, input: child evangelism
B. The output [Transformation of the nation]
VII. Selected Bibliography
PROPOSAL
In the paper entitled “RELEVANCE OF CHILD-EVANGELISM IN THE CONTEXT OF
NEPAL”, we will consider the diverse situation of the living standard of the Nepali Children and make an
attempt to approve the process of evangelizing the children. We will also see if we can make child
evangelism contextual, relevant and significant in the particular case of Nepal where child evangelism is
taking place in an unknowingly greater speed. We will take the case history of the depravity of the
children in a particular region of the country and make it a means of measurement to analyze the overall
situation of the children living in Nepal. We will seek the level of effectiveness in the works of the
children home to create in the mind of the children a thirst to seek “The Way, The Truth and the Life” or
the “Light of the world” in a creative way. It will be more than fifty pages and less than one hundred
pages with a central idea of the significance of child evangelism in the particular case of Nepal. A
scholarly method of documentation will be applied so that the ideas expressed will have a supporting
resources quoted as footnote or endnote and so on. If child-evangelism occupies any appropriate scope for
evangelism in the context of Nepal or not is the theme of my thesis.
My thesis entitled “Relevance of Child- Evangelism in the context of Nepal” will have
altogether 6 chapters excluding foreword, dedication, introduction and thesis proposal. If child-
evangelism occupies any appropriate scope for evangelism in the context of Nepal or not is the theme of
my thesis. In it we will seek the appropriacy of children ministry in a country like Nepal where many of
them are living in the streets, or many of them are forced to be house workers and in a way or two they
have been misused. The children of today are the adults of our tomorrow. The gospel is such a thing,
which can be absorbed by human mind when it is preached or told at the very early age. Almost all of the
ways of Evangelism implied in Nepal are targeted to the senior age groups. So for us, the greatest
challenge is to seek the ways to save these children by giving them the “light of the world” and by
showing them “the way, the truth and the life” providing their everyday needs in a normal standard that is
being consumed by the children of the other rich nations.
In chapter [I ]of the thesis we will try to defines the terms children and Child –
Evangelism in the light of both secular and religious references found in Greek, Hebrew texts as
well as in the modern advanced dictionaries while in the chapter II we shall tend to seek [A]the
classification of Nepali children [B] Problems faced by Nepali Children[C] Child is the Father of
the Nation using the resources made by international non Government organizations like the
WHO, FAO and ILO providing some basic hints to their health status as such the level of their
misuse, malnutrition and bonded labor. Chapter III under the heading Effective Evangelism:
Child –Evangelism will be about two major subtopics: what the Bible says about Child
evangelism and what scholars say about Child evangelism. Under the heading Child
Evangelism: Process and Procedures chapter IV has attempted to classify the whole process of
child evangelism focusing on-infrastructures in developing spirituality in the Children,
transformation process of the children, the gateway to reach the unreached peoples’ groups, roles
of Children’s literature. In the chapter [V ] under the heading Relevance and the need of child-
evangelism in Nepali soil we will see about banking future believers and protecting the lost
souls.
The last chapter [VI] will emphasize that the fundamental resource for tomorrow’s
civilized society is today’s that part of the population in which the children are counted. With a
conclusive assertion as Child-evangelism the best way to transform the nation I have tried to well
defend my thesis with two corresponding logics- action, input: child evangelism
, the output [Transformation of the nation].VII is about the bibliography.
Foreword
Finding ships is easy but finding the helmsmen to sail them in the vast ocean is very
difficult. From the very beginning of my student life at the Katmandu International University
God had given in my heart’s tablet a burning calling for me to enter the vast field of child-
evangelism ministry. I finished my three years of strenuous studies at the college setting a
superb example among my colleagues and in front of the academic faculties there. Then I had to;
immediately after my formal study was over; begin Expedition For New Life Mission Inc.[1] in
collaboration with my wife Jayanti who is also a KU graduate .I was supposed to write my
B.Th. dissertation on a topic of my choice in which I was supposed to be well and
knowledgeable. I sought and found that the topic for my thesis could rightly be “Relevance of
Child-Evangelism in the Context of Nepal.”
I made the table of contents and presented before my University President Rev. Professor
Dr. Luke V. Levis for his kind approval .I was very afraid to be in front of him fearing that he
might reject the topic but after sinking in the paper for half an hour like a sinking ship deep in the
table of contents and proposal letter, suddenly his serious face got bright and said “well done my
boy!” nodding his head.
Saying “Thank you very much Sir!” I came out of his big shining office. Yet, my
days of troublesome thoughts and worries were not done away with. In me there was lack of
well-versed language, well management skill and a more clear definition of the topic that I had
selected for my paper, which was to be submitted within the span of one year. Desperately I
began my work, visited people involved in the ministry, consulted many experts and made notes
on the children of Nepal, their status and problems to be addressed in their lives. Also I remained
in a frequent touch with Professors of Tribhuwan University for the right diction’s application in
a right place. In this process time and again the professors there scolded me for my bankruptcy in
the use of English words. Yes, ships were found but there were no helmsmen to sail them. In me
was a draught of that kind of intellectuality as of Professor Tim or the lucidity that of the other
professors. Without their monitoring I look back now and gasp, “How could it be written?” This
paper is the outcome of their sagacious attempts to correct my research materials putting them in
a place so suitable. I also thank KIU dean Dr.SK Bareilly for assisting me to obtain awesome
materials for the paper. Also I thank my wife Jayanti for her valuable assistance in making the
type setting of the book. The conclusion of my thesis is child is the father of the nation.
Therefore, the right way to transform the nation is through effective child-evangelism followed
by consistent service oriented fellowship amid these makers of the nation.
James Ben Hokma
Maharajgunj, Kathmandu, Nepal
Chapter I. Introduction
A. Definition of the term children:
Children are the male and female human entities of humanity from their birth to until
they reach the age of maturity. The term children includes study about their psychological,
emotional and spiritual development followed by their physical growth in a given time span
covered by their childhood.
B. Definition of Child-evangelism:
Generally to tell the good news to our children is understood as Child evangelism. The
term evangelism is derived from Greek root ευάγγελιον; meaning to bring out the good message.
Therefore, when we say child –evangelism; one must understand that it is “the overall process of
bringing the children in the kingdom of God through the application of all means and skills
required through the process of personal evangelization” in order to make the lost children
realize that:
a) They are sinful by natureb) By no means other than Jesus there is salvationc) They need to repent for their sinsd) They need to remember their creator when they have time
e) They need to be saved
Child-evangelism is a phenomenon that emerged in Europe after the reformation period;
which was merely the updated version of the original child evangelism practiced by our Lord
Jesus long time ago in the fertile land of Israel. “Let the children come to me”, said the Lord
when the elders and matured people of Israel were preventing the children hear Him preaching a
touching sermon regarding the Kingdom of heaven and God.
In order to address these five problems no. (a)-(e), we need to go back to the words of
Lord Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20.There the term discipleship has been used which is “ not a
program, but a lifelong process. Discipleship is not a notebook that one completes. It is not a
group of people to whom one regularly attends. It is not a certificate you can hang on the
wall and say,” I’ve been there. I’ve done that.’ Discipleship is a life style and it is living
each day as Christ would live it.”
Therefore, discipling is at the core of what the Christian church is about. It leads to
evangelism and changed lives, to righteous and abundant living, to joyful and meaningful
service. Every believer is a disciple with a lifelong potential growth and service. Famous
Children-evangelist Sam Doherty has written:
Before Lord Jesus returned to heaven, He gave a commandment to the disciples and church for the ages. That commandment was – to go and tell the gospel. “Therefore go in the world and tell the good news to all the creatures.” That commandment is still relevant for us even today. The main reason that Lord Jesus, left us on this earth, as believers is that we may tell the good news to the lost ones. This is such a work, which we can never do in the heaven1.
A large portion of the world population is comprised of children. In certain countries half
of the total population is composed of children below the age of 14.This commandment,
therefore, includes them and gives responsibility to the church of Jesus Christ to evangelize
millions of children and preach it incessantly. Individuals, local churches, missionary societies
and organizations that have achieved some specialization in child evangelism should mobilize
this evangelism of the Children out reach.
The gospel must be declared to the children. Children without Jesus are spiritually
dead, out of God’s kingdom and as far as their position is concerned, they are lost. If they have
reached the age of consideration and accountability and are not saved and if they die, they will
perish forever. But the children can be saved. Through evangelism and as the Holy spirit works
in their hearts. But how can they be saved without “an evangelist?”(Roman 10:14). Many of us
have been given responsibilities and privileged to carry the gospel to these children and preach it
to them.
Child-evangelism, in general, is telling the good news to the children. For all children must be
saved in Christ. In a booklet some American Christians have written:
1 xyz
Today the world is faced with chaos and confusion. The gloom of despair, the pall of hopelessness envelops the people of the world. Yet, we know, we believe and are unapologetically committed to the percept that Christ can dispel this gloom. He can bring the Joy of hope to the failing hearts of millions who have “never heard a saving word.” The display of a seemingly trite slogan, Christ is the answer” on a board, prompted a cynic to write beneath it: “What is the question?” A wiser third party wrote beneath the cynic’s statement: “It doesn’t matter what the question is. Christ is still the answer!” Yes, Christ is still the answer for the children.
Summary1:
Child -evangelism is a process of telling the children about the gospel of Jesus Christ and
brings them in the Kingdom of God from their lost condition and giving them assurance of
salvation and eternal life.
2. Definition of the term children:
Evangelism is still a controversial term and a hesitant ministry in many churches.
The loss of church membership in some of the largest denominations is a matter of concern. But
of even greater concern is the lack of clear motivation, meaning and methodology in fulfilling
the Great commission to make disciples of Jesus Christ and mature them in the Christian way of
life. Evangelism is a must if a church is to fulfill its mission, and yet evangelism is a problem.
Churches and ministers and lay people are deeply concerned about the matter of evangelism.
Today they are wrestling with the church’s mission and priorities of which evangelism is a
major aspect. Not satisfied with the older style of evangelism that centered largely in personal
salvation or statistical growth, nor with the newer interpretation of evangelism that centers
largely in social injustice or humanization, they are reaching for that comprehensive evangelism
which embraces the fullness of the gospel: personal discipleship with Jesus Christ and communal
love and relationship with neighbor.
The Great commission is also for the Children. Is the great commission out of date? I think
not. We are still called to be Christ’s witness in the world today. For that reason evangelism is
not an option. It is imperative, and we had better be about the task. The Question is what kind of
evangelism? The answer is service evangelism. The following points are to be considered before
we evangelize the children:
-What is the real purpose of evangelism?
-How do you reach the unreached?
-Is there any relation between evangelism and social action?
-How do you create a climate of acceptance in your church for
evangelism?
-How do you motivate people to want to share their faith?
-Does your religious language really communicate in today’s world?
-Will visitation evangelism work in a rural community?
-What is my role in all this?
By evangelism I mean reaching out to others in Christian love, identifying with them,
caring for them, listening to them, and sharing one’s faith with them in such a way that they will
freely respond and want to commit themselves to trust, love and obey God as a disciple of
Jesus Christ and a member of his servant community, the church.
a. Definition:
The term “Children” is indicated by two GK terms Teknon used more than 350 times in the NT
(Singular: tekna) and Pidion (Singular: Pidia) that is a plural word denoting more than one child,
male or female. So the term Children can be defined as:
Children are a people of still growing age who have not even reached the age of full maturity, and who fall between the ages of 1years to 5 years Tekna and above than that upto-15 years pidion2.
b. Nepal: Located in South Asia, Nepal’s latitude is26•22’ to3o•27’ north and the longitude is 84•4’
to88•12’.The surface area of Nepal is about 0.03 ٪ of the world and 0.3 ٪ of Asia. The Total area is 147181
2
sq Km (56’827 sq miles), east west length 885 km and width is variable (maximum 241 km, minimum
145km,average 193 km.), border: China in the north and India in the south, east and west.[16]
c. Population:
Population of Nepal increased from15 million in 1981 to 18.5 million in 1991 and then to 23.1
million in 2001 fixing an annual growth rate of 2.25 percent in 1991-01 decade. Geographic distribution
of population is uneven. The census of 2001 counted 7.3.44.3 and 48.4 percent of the total population in
the mountain, hill and the terai, regions respectively. Urban areas, then 33, accommodated 9.2 percent of
the total population in 1991.[17]
d. Situation of the Children:
The approximate population of children in Nepal is about 90, 00,000.[18]Their situation can be seen y
the following statistics:
Crude birth rate (CBS)-31.28 per 1000 populationCrude death rate (CDR) - 9.22per 1000populationInfant mortality rate (IMR)-64.4 p3r1000 live births.Life expectancy at birth (yrs) 62.20Male life expectancy at birth (yrs) 61.76Female life expectancy at birth (yrs) 62.50[19]
Generally, sick children under 14 are cared for by children’s hospitals lack of scientific record
keeping was seen as a big problem in establishing the priorities and massive utilization of health
resources. Studies done by various authors and institutions showed the following information related to
health and diseases of the children:
Births attended by a medical professional[20]: 9٪Birth weight[21]: <2.5 kg32٪, >2.5 kg68 ٪ (n=577)Mean Birth weight (kg)[22]: 2.69 (S.D 0.4, Range 1.7 to 3.9 kg, n=577)Length (cm) [23]: 47.2(SD 2.1,Range 41 to 54,n=576)
Environment (ambient temperature at birth in a maternity hospital of Kathmandu)[24]:<25 degree C, 52 ٪ ;> 25 degree C, 48٪Stillbirths[25]: 3 ٪ of total birthsNeonatal mortality rate (Births to 28 days)[26]: 54 per 1000 live birthsInfant mortality rate (1998)[27]: 72 per 1000 live birthsRatio of Pediatricians to children<14 years 91999)[28]: 1:65,340
Breast-feeding immediately after birth[29]: 3 hours, 24٪, <6 hours 58٪, 6-12 hours37٪, were not fed.81 percent of fed infants receiv3d breast milk (n=578).Mean length of breast feeding (1986)[30]: Rural 25 months, Urban22 months
Variation of low birth weight (, 2500g according to ethnic groups[31]: Brahmin and Chhetri 42.28٪, Tibeto Barman 9.40٪, Newar 34.09٪, and others 14.59٪.
Common health problems in Children:
Under nutrition, malnutrition, stunting, wasting, vitamin A deficiency, goiter and iron deficiency
anemia are common nutritional problems in Children. In one hospital based study, among the admitted
5,848 children under 14yrars,there were 122 (2.1٪) patients with heart disease, and rheumatic heart
disease was identified as the most common heart problem in the Nepali Children.[32]
Disabled children: In Nepal, 3 ٪ of children is disabled. The types of their disabilities are shown in the
following table:
Deaf 40.6Blind 21.4Paralyzed 18.9Deaf 8.9Quadriplegic 6.1Mentally ill 3.3Others 0.7Total 100.0
Sources: CBS population Census, 19b1: children and women of Nepal A Situation Analysis, 1992,HMG/UNICEF, Nepal, 1992.
Emerging problems in children and adolescents
Apart from medical infirmity and disabilities, new problems have begun to emerge in the past few
decades among children and adolescent. These include:
Running away from home: due to poverty’s discrimination, lack of awareness.Child labor: Child labor has become common past about 10 years of age. It is quite common in
agriculture, domestic help, dishwashers in hotels/restaurants, carpets factories and other industries.
Teenage pregnancy: This problem is also found to be acute in Nepal.Children affected by drugs: Including drug addiction, smoking, and alcoholism.Street Children: Recently, the number of street children has been increasing.Child abuse: Girls suffer more from sexual abuse.Violence: Newspapers have reported children being used in political violence, which is the latest problem that Nepali children are facing.[33]Among all these problems the war-generated violence in Nepal is very intake. Everyday hundreds of them
are deprived of their parental love and homely care as the ongoing civil war takes 7 lives out of each
hundred Nepalese. Also war-generated problems hinder their regular studies. The rebel groups abduct
many of the children. And if this situation remains for a more decade the children of Nepal will lose all
their opportunities to become a good citizen of Nepal.[34]
3. Demography of Nepali Children:
No body knows the exact and accurate number of Nepali children, yet according to the
statistical pocket book published by the central bureau of Statistics present population of Nepali Children
would reach around 9 million. CBS pocket book 4.Classification of Nepali children indicates:
They can be divided into three major groups on the basis of the facility they receive:
a) Aristocratic Children: The children of those rich people who get the facility in its optimum degree
such as good food, shelter and good education. They cover the ten percent of the total population of
children in Nepal.[35]
b) Middle class children: The Children of those people who hold the government job or possess some
income generating business are classified as the middle class children whose percentage is around 35.
c) Poor children: Those who have no parents and or those who have been deprived of basic human rights
and facility consuming opportunities fall under this group whose percentage is the remaining or 55% of
the total population of the children.
5. Problems faced by Nepali Children:
The commonest problems faced by the Nepali children are of two kinds:
a) Physical problems: Problem of getting good homily environment, parental care and education is one
aspect of the problems faced by the Nepali children. Dr N.B Basnet writes:
The problem of the children are many but among them could be- 1. Running away from home: Due to poverty, sex discrimination, and lack of awareness. 2. Child labor: Child labor has become common past about 10 years of age. It is quite common in agriculture, domestic help, dishwashers in hotels and restaurants. 3. Teenage pregnancy: Many of the teenage girls were found to be premature pregnant. 4. Children affected by drugs: Including drug addiction, smoking and alcoholism. 5. Street children: Recently, the number of street children has been increasing. 6. Child abuse: Girls suffer more from Sexual abuse. 7. Violence: Ever since the Maoist insurgency in Nepal rose to its peak 12 years before many children are subject to abduction, killing and caused to be orphans. Newspapers like TKP have reported children being used in political violence, which is the latest problem that Nepali children face. [36] b) Spiritual problems: Generally speaking the average Nepali children are lost like the strayed sheep. Their surroundings
are full of idolatries and images of false gods and thus they are psychologically bound to the slavery of
Idol worship since their birth. More than 300 million gods or any kinds of family deities are here. So there
is a natural tendency that the child slants or bows towards a false god of his society.[37]Thus they need to
be saved in the Lord. They are like the walking bones mentioned in the book of Ezekiel 37.Who is to
give them the breath of life but we?
6. Child is the Father of the Nation:
The children of today become the fathers and mothers of tomorrows. So special care and love like of
Jesus should be rendered to them through service evangelism if the gospel is to be declared to them in a
way that was never done before. That is why famous English poet William Wordsworth wrote:
Dear God the very houses seem asleep;And all that mighty heart is lying stillChild is the father of the nation[38] The children of today, in a wider sense, are the fathers of the nation. Here nation may be a country or people especially representing a particular region or culture group. As they grow up they build up the manpower required for the future development of the nation. And as they grow up slowly they are habituated to endure the social barriers that hinder the development of a society. So what we are supposed to do to response their needs: a. We need to care for the lost ones: John R.Bisango and Harry M.Piland wrote: Caring for the lost persons is not an emotional state of mind that becomes as a spiritual high at an evangelism conference; it is obedience evidenced in action demonstrated- visible to my Lord and to the world that I care for him and the millions for whom he died. It is obedience to go and to keep on going - to tell till millions know.[39] The Children of Nepal need the revelation of Jesus today. Jesus should be revealed before the children of
Nepal just as He was revealed before one of the disciples Simon Peter:
Blessed are you, Simon Son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man but by my father in Heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.[40] (Matthew 16:17-20) Like Peter Jesus wants the children of Nepal to be the rock upon which his church will be built. The
gates of Hades will not overcome that church. It will give them the keys of the kingdom of heaven. And
after they are taught in a wisely way the word of God, they will be able to inherit the right “what ever
you will bind on the earth will be bound in heaven and what ever you loose on the earth will be loosed in
heaven.”
b. We should have the compassion to care them: In order to care the lost children there is no readymade
standard. It should be set or made ready with little compassion. John R.Bisagno and Harry M.Piland
wrote:
Frankly, not many of us have the quality of compassion and caring that we should have before our Lord. It follows, then, that our compassion for lost persons is even less. But if we act on whatever compassion we have, our feeling of concern for persons will increase. This is a strange fact, but it is fact: lack of emotion paralyzes our service, but service to Christ is based on obedience brings joy.[41]
C. We should depend on the word of God: Millions of people today are searching for a reliable voice of
authority. The word of God is the only real authority we have. His word sheds light on human nature,
world problems and human suffering. But beyond that, it clearly reveals the way to God.[42]
d. We need to say the message of the bible to the lost children: The message of the bible is simple. It is
the message of Jesus Christ who said, “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John14: 6). It is the story of
salvation: the story of their redemption and mine through Christ: the story of life, of peace, of eternity.
Billy Graham once wrote:
Our faith is not dependant upon human knowledge and scientific advance, but upon the unmistakable message of the Word of God. The Bible is old: yet it is ever new.[43] 7. Effective Evangelism:
Child –Evangelism: -When we hear the word evangelism, what comes to mind? Many imagine a large
auditorium, a crusade choir, a well-known evangelist, and a public invitation. Others think of godly
Christian quietly letting his light shine where he works. Some might even envision an over-zealous
believer pistol-whipping a prospective convert with bible verses. Well, what is evangelism anyway? The
word evangelize did not appear in the English language until the seventeenth century. The word
Evangelize is not in most, if any, English translation of the Bible, but it is in the Greek text. [44]There are
two Greek words that must be understood before a biblical definition can be determined.
a. Good News: The first term that must be understood is evangelion. It is a compound word, composed
of eu, which is “good”, and angelus, meaning ‘messenger.’ Together they form the word Evangeline,
literally meaning “good message” or “good news” The word occurs seventy times in the NT, sixty-six of
which are used by Apostle Paul.[45]
In secular Greek euangelion could have been any good news. Mark introduces his gospel with
“the beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the son of God” the term he uses is euangelion, so the verses
literally mean,” the beginning of the good news about Jesus Christ.”[46]
b. “Announce the Good News”
The second Greek word that must be understood is euangelizo, translated “evangelize.” It means, “To
announce the good news”-any good news. For example; to announce a fearful patient that the diagnosis
was not cancer. Evangelizo is used fifty times in the New Testament in a general way. In 1 Thessalonians
3:6 Paul says,” But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith
and love….”The phrase “brought us good news “ is the verb euangelizo. However, in the New Testament
evangelize is usually translated “preach the Gospel.” It refers specifically to the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Paul says in1 Corinthians 1:17, “For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the Gospel,”
literally, “…. not to baptize, but to evangelize. In 1 Corinthians 9:16 he says, “Woe is me if I do not
preach the gospel!” In these and many other passages, Paul is using euangelizo, meaning, “to announce
the good news of Jesus Christ. So to evangelize in the New Testament sense of the term is to announce
the good news that Jesus Christ died for our sins and arose from the dead.[47]
Effective evangelism is child evangelism as they are reared from their very young age they have the
opportunity and potentiality to grow well in the Lord and serve the nation. It is effective because by the
time they are grown up big they will have become a good preacher, pastor and evangelist themselves.
Children are sensitive. Children are adoptive. Children are willing to receive Jesus and children, like other
unsaved people, deserve to hear from the word of God.
Child Evangelism is communicating the gospel of Jesus Christ with the immediate intent of converting the bearer to Faith in Christ, and with the ultimate intent of instructing the convert in the Word of God so that he can become a mature believer.[48] In His book Evangelism and Sovereignty of J.I Packer says, “How then child evangelism should be
defined? The New Testament answer is very simple. God According to the New Testament, Child
evangelism is just preaching the gospel, evangel; to the Children: Pidion” he then adds, “Evangelizing,
therefore, is not simply a matter of teachings, and instructing, and imparting information to the mind.
There is more to it than that. Evangelism includes the endeavor to elicit a response to the truth taught. It is
communicating with a view of conversion. It is a matter, not merely of informing, but also
inviting.”[49]Harvey Cox has been quoted as saying, “Any distinction between social action and child
evangelism is mistaken.”[50]
James says, “As the body without spirit is dead, so the faith without deed also is dead.”(James 2:26)
Effective-evangelism is child- evangelism and for the transformation of the nation there is a great role of
this act.
8. Child –Evangelism:
The gateway to reach the unreached peoples groups: -
Known as a country of diversified flora and fauna Nepal is also very rich in her tribal ethnic diversity. In
Nepal there are more than 75 ethnic tribes and nations.[51]It is child evangelism through which we can
reach these diversified tribes with the light of gospel in their terrains where there are the strongholds of
forces of darkness and evil spirits.
Child evangelism can be done in many ways among them some are:
a. Adopting them in Homes: We can tell them gospel and then keep them as our own children in a
home. If we adopt them and give them food clothes and proper education they can be some day a
good missionary for their own home country or society.
b. Technical skills: We can give them technical skills so that they can be good witness of Jesus
being self-sustaining in the society.
c. Vocational training: Also skill-oriented jobs called vocational trainings can be given in a wider
range to those who live in the children home.
d. By increasing love and respect toward work: We can teach them that as we are humans we must
work for our survival.
e. Making them obedient to God: Everyday devotional and spiritual life will result them to be
obedient to God and responsible to the society they live in.
f. Ultimately it will open a door to those areas where the gospel has still not reached due to some
known or unknown reasons.
Richard Stoll Armstrong wrote:
Now it is the time for those of us who call ourselves Christians to take our stand for what is right in God’s sight, for what is descent, and fair and just and healthful and wholesome, and good, and true. We who are
called to be Christ’s faith by word and by deed in ways that will communicate to this jet propelled-age in which we live. That means responding to needs, not just reaching to demands. The call is to action, not reaction. Our Lord came as a suffering servant, and we are called to be a servant church.[52]
9. Children Home: Roles in developing spirituality and transformation of the children:
As we evangelize the children the best ways for developing their spirituality and obedience to God is to set a place, which could be the children’s home. It is the children home where they can be transformed inside out. Children’s homes provide them the following things:a. An opportunity to learn word of God.
b. An opportunity to grow up in faith.
C. An occasion of having fellowship with one another
d. Homely environment
e. Parental love
Richard Stoll Armstrong once wrote: By child evangelism I mean reaching out to others in Christian love, identifying with them, and sharing one’s faith with them in such a way that they will freely respond and want to commit themselves to trust, love, and obey God as a disciple of Jesus Christ and a member of His servant community, the church.[53]
As Christian witnesses and evangelists, then, our task is not to prove that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
That we can never do. Our Task is to show by the way we speak and act that we believe he is. That, by
God’s grace, we can do![54]
10. Relevance and the need of child-evangelism in Nepali soil: -
Fifty strenuous years have already passed in the Nepali church history without retaining any significant
goals of expanding the Church. One of the many causes of the church being failed to establish itself as
self-entity here could be “misunderstanding the relevance and need of Child Evangelism in Nepali
soil”[55]Today more than 900,000 children in Nepal are in need of Jesus. It is very apt work to do. But
while evangelizing the children one cannot neglect the aspects of their social benefits or well-being.[56]
Child evangelism is a part of service evangelism. The main thing to remember in service evangelism is
that the initial purpose in calling on people is what the name implies: service. The callers are there to
listen, to emphasize, and to show they care, to be friends. Behind every door there is a need of some kind,
and sensitive callers will usually discover it. As tactfully as possible and without being pushy, they hope
to communicate their desire and their availability to be helpful.[57]
The initial purpose of Child evangelism, then, is service. But that is not the only purpose. We are not
mere social workers. We are ambassadors for Christ. Our Christian witness is not a hidden agenda. There
is a vast field of ministry in the deprived sections of the society basically covered by the number of
children. But there are no harvesters for the Lord.
As Nepal is divided like the divided kingdom of Israel today, many children are compelled to become the
victims of violence, murder and child soldier. So the poverty is increasing in Nepal leaving them no
opportunity for the children to go to the school and get education. Evangelizing them remains as the
prime task yet to be done here. Great challenges call for historical responses.
Evangelists need to do the following duties:a. Adopt them in homes, schools and teach them the word of God.b. Tell them the central truth of a bible lesion in a simple language.c. Create an environment in which they can be well fed everyday.d. Prove that Jesus loves them through practical deeds.e. Provide audiovisual items as teaching materials. f. Take the responsibility of their carry, marry and bury. And many more[58]
11. Conclusion: Child-evangelism is one of the best ways to transform the nation: Child -evangelism is a person to-person process of evangelism. Multitudes of children, today in the world, are without Jesus, just dying for a loaf of bread due to hunger. We need to give them guidance by being ourselves as the light in the darker world. A very good storywriter of Nepal has recently written a touching story match able to this analogy of us being part of the light of the world: It was nighttime. Darkness lay everywhere. A village trails. Up and down. A man was walking holding lantern on one hand and stick on the other. Just behind was a man following him. In his hand neither was a stick nor a torchlight .He was walking in the light of the Lantern carried by the man in front of him. On the middle if the way he asked the person walking ahead-“I am feeling a real wonder.” The man in the lead asked- “Why? Why did you feel wonder?” He said, “You are a fool, you are blind, and cannot see, yet you are walking with the lantern. What is the use of the light of the lantern for a man who can not see the road?” The man carrying the lantern was blind. Just stopping on the way he said to the man in a polite tone-“ Yes, I am blind, cannot see, for me there is no use of this lantern, but I am carrying this lantern not for me but for your sake, thinking that you who walk on the way might not fall….”[59] Hearing the blind man the person repented. Seeing his attitude to provide help to those who see and serve them even by being blind who would not repent? We evangelists are no more than the blind man in our personal qualification. But we have heed to show the way to millions of unsaved children who have not understood the value of “the light of the world” through whom they will know “the way, the truth and life.” We need to transform this nation through the children evangelism.
Supplementary Questionnaires
1. How do you define the phrase Child-evangelism?
2. How would you define the term children?
3. What is the present demography of the Nepali Children?
4. How would you classify the Nepali children? What could be the three fundamental basics for the
children’s classification?
5. What are the major problems faced by Nepali children?
6. How would you say that the Child is the father of the nation?
Ways to lead them towards spirituality, maturity and boldness to lead the nation.
7. Why is child –evangelism effective evangelism? What is the major basis to say that this is the effective
evangelism?
8. How could child evangelism be the gateway to reach the unreached peoples group?
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
9. How do you teach the children about Jesus?
10. What is the role of children home in child-evangelism?
11. What are the conditions to be fulfilled before evangelizing the children?
12. How is child-evangelism relevant in the Nepali soil?
13. Why is child evangelism the only remedy for Nepal?
14. What is the purpose of Child –evangelism?
15. What is the secret of the success of your children ministry?
[1] Faith Foundation Nepal . A mission based on the child-evangelism concept.[2] Pradhan, Eliah,Discourses On Child Evangelism , a seminar speech on the eve of Christmas 2004[3] The Septuagint or LXX of Greek Bible, available in KIU library.[4] Pradhan, Eliah, Defining Child Evangelism In Few Words, a hand written answer to the author’s question on September 1 2005 A.D [5]Long, John, Leading Discipleship In A Church , Alabama Edition1997-98, USA .[6] Ibid.[7] Mark 16:15, King James Version Bible[8] Doherty, Sam, How to Evangelize the Children? Child Evangelism Fellowship of Nepal, P. O .Box 1352,
Katmandu Nepal .2004
[9] Doherty, Sam, How to Evangelize the Children? Child Evangelism Fellowship of Nepal, P. O .Box 1352,
Katmandu Nepal .2004
[10] Bisango, John R., Piland, Harry M. ‘TIL Millions KNOW, Page 5.Convention Press, Nashville , Tennessee , U.S.A.[11] Homrighausen, Elmer G. Foreword of Service Evangelism, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia . Page 12[12] Ibid[13] Ibid[14] Ibid[15] GK. Term derived from Doherty, Sam, Fifty years and Still Learning, CEF Inc.ACEW, Ireland[16] Statistical pocket book 2004, Central Bureau of Statistics, Thapathali.Page 1.[17] Ibid.[18] ibid.[19] Ibid.[20] State of the world Children 2000, WHO report.[21] De L Costello et al, Pal DK et al, 2000;[22] Ibid[23] Ibid[24] Ibid[25] Family health division, MOH, HMG, Nepal , 1998;[26] Basnet NB et al.1999[27] Ibid[28] Basnet NB , Takashi I.2001, Tokyo University .[29] Ibid[30] Children and women of Nepal : A situation Analysis 1992.HMG /UNICEF, Nepal[31] Gautam M.NEPAS journal volume VIII, July-December, 1988.[32] Basnet et al.[33] Basnet, Narayan Bahadur, Nepal At The Dawn of the 21 st Century , Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of medicine, the University of Tokyo, Japan 2001 Page 64 ff.[34]Dixit MadanMani, Himal Magazine Article[35] Regmi, Maheshchandra, The Children of Nepal and Their Fate, Royal NepalAcademy, 2001Falls P39.
[36] Basnet, Narayan Bahadur , Nepal at the Dawn of the 21 st Century , Departments of Pediatrics, Graduate school of Medicine the University of Tokyo, Japan 2001.[37] Pradhan, Elijah, An inter view with Eliah Pradhan about Children Ministry, a questionnaire the author responded by Mr.Pradhan.[38] Words Worth, William, Upon the Westminster Bridge , Derived from The English Dictionary of Quotations, 1807 English poet.[39] Bisango, John R. & Piland M.Hary, Till Millions Know, Convention Press, Nasville, Tenessee, 1983 page 9[40] The New Inter national Version (Matthew 16:17-20)[41] Bisango, John R., Piland, Harry M. ‘TIL MiLLIONS KNOW, Page 8.Convention Press, Nashville , Tennessee , U.S.A. [42] Mears, Henrietta C., What The BIBLE IS All About, Gospel Light Publications, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55440,Canada. Foreword By Billy Graham.[43] Ibid.[44] Cocoris, G.Michael, Evangelism: A Biblical Approach, Moody Press 1984 p11.[45] Ibid page 12[46] Ibid[47] Ibid P. 13[48] Cocoris,G.Michael .et al[49] Paker, J.I, Evangelism and the Sovereignty of God, pp41, 50[50] Wagner, C.Peter, “What Is Evangelism?” pp.96-7[51] Gautam,Rajesh,Tribal Ethnography of Nepal, Book Faith India volume 1,p.1[52] Stoll Armstrong, Richard, Service Evangelism, The Westminster Press,PhiladelphiaUSAPp.47[53] Armstrong, Richard Stoll, Service Evangelism, The Westminster Press, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA pp53.[54] Ibid.[55] Rokaya, DR.K.B, A Dissemination on Church Growth, Pulchowk.2004 Falls[56] ibid[57] Armstrong, Richard Stoll, Service Evangelism, Westminster Press, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania , USA P.81[58] Pradhan, Eliah, Responsibilities of an Evangelist. Nepal Bal Susamachar Sangh.2000.[59] Malla, Ashesh, Helpfulness, Sunkeshra Monthly , Poornank 112, Saun 2062.
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